Programs & Events

2008 Programs & Events

Ambassador Discusses Potential in U.S.-Malaysian Bilateral Relationship

On November 19, 2008 Ambassador James Keith spoke before a sizeable audience at the Institute for Strategic and International Studies - Malaysia's International Affairs Forum. He discussed the topic of "Potential and Promise for U.S.- Malaysia Relations" and participated in a lively question and answer session moderated by ISIS Chairman and CEO, Tan Sri Mohamed Jawhar Hassan. An autonomous and non-profit organisation, ISIS Malaysia is engaged in a wide range of activities focusing on objective and independent policy research and fostering dialogue and debate between the public sector, the private sector and academia.  

U.S. Partnership Enhances Malaysia's Oil Production

Ambassador James Keith toured Kikeh, Malaysia's first deepwater oil field, on November 18. A joint venture operated by Murphy Oil with its partner Petronas Carigali, Kikeh is cranking out 100,000 barrels of oil per day (bopd) in waters 1300 meters deep--no small engineering feat. Kikeh began producing oil in August 2007 at a rate of 40,000 bopd and is projected to reach 120,000 bopd by the end of this year, contributing significantly to Malaysia's crude production levels for the next 25 years.   More

"I, Too, Sing America" - Sharing the Voices of African-American Poets

American Professor Hortense Simmons demonstrated the power and beauty of poetry by African-American writers for 200 students and faculty members at Selangor International Islamic University (Kolej Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Selangor) on November 13, 2008. Simmons gave engaging readings of poems by Langston Hughes, Gwendolyn Brooks and Maya Angelou. Noting that poetry needs to be heard in order to be fully enjoyed and appreciated, Simmons explained how poetry is often referred to as "language distilled."   More

"Doing Business with the U.S.": Embassy Commercial Attaché discusses trade issues with students at KL's SEGi College

U.S. Commercial Attaché Terry Sorgi discussed international trade issues with 120 business and finance students at SEGi College in Kuala Lumpur on November 12, 2008. Topics covered ranged from the status of U.S- Malaysia trade, especially the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations, and the current global financial crisis. The students are currently enrolled in the American Degree Program offered at SEGI, in partnership with Upper Iowa University of Fayette, Iowa. After the presentation, Mr. Sorgi and Commercial Specialist Tracy Yeoh toured the educational facility and attended a luncheon with faculty and students.  

Ambassador Keith and AMCHAM Recognize Student Achievers AT Young Enterprise Program Showcase 2008

Ambassador James Keith joined in the celebration of entrepreneurial talent and potential at the American Malaysian Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM)'s 19th Young Enterprise (YE) Program Achievers' Showcase at Wisma MCA in Kuala Lumpur. The showcase is the culmination of a year-long YE Program, which enables Malaysian Form Four students (16 year-olds) an opportunity to become entrepreneurs by setting-up and managing their own companies. Over 300 students from 15 secondary schools participated in the event by showcasing their creativity in conceptualizing and manufacturing unique products, which were sold to sustain their businesses during the nine-month program. The Young Enterprise Achievement (YEA) Awards recognize and encourage excellence in the performance of the companies created under the Young Enterprise (YE) Program. Ambassador Keith presented several of the winning awards and toured an exhibition of the products on display by the Achievers in the YE Program.  

A Celebration of Democracy: Embassy KL watches the 2008 US Presidential Election

KL held an event on the morning of November 5 to watch the exciting conclusion of the US Presidential Election at the Renaissance Hotel in Kuala Lumpur along with about 400 invited guests. The Public Affairs Section organized informational displays and activities for guests, including a mock election (88% of guests voted for Barack Obama, and 8% for John McCain, with two write-in votes for Ralph Nader). A giant screen showed CNN election, and the Presidential Debates and videos about US Elections were looped on several giant-screen TVs. The Lincoln Resource Center set up a table offering guests a wide variety of information (including Internet) on the US elections.   More

Professor John Voll on Islam in America at Selangor International Islamic University College

On October 31, Georgetown University Professor John Voll captivated an audience of nearly 400 students and faculty members at a lecture on "Islam in America Post 9/11: Bridging the Gap Between the US. and the Muslim World." The lecture, hosted by the Selangor International Islamic University College (Kolej Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Selangor), and organized by the U.S. Embassy, focused on how American Muslims and American Islam are important to shaping the relationship between the U.S. and the Muslim world. Voll noted that American Muslims, especially those from civil society and academia, play a critical role in fostering understanding about Islam around the world.

Voll also discussed the post-9/11 environment in the U.S. and how the event spurred increased conversations between Muslims and people of other faiths in America, creating bridges between communities and greater interfaith dialogue.  

Panel Wows Audience at Forum on U.S Presidential Elections 2008: Race, Religion and Economics

On October 30, Professor John Voll spoke at the STAR-Asian Center for Media Studies Forum on U.S. Elections together with former Fulbright Professor Joan Kosta and Professor Lee Poh Ping of University Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). Over 200 people attended the forum, which focused on issues of interest in the 2008 U.S. presidential election - including race, religion and economics. Voll noted that Senator Obama's race would not be the determining factor in the results of the election, observing that voters are more interested in the issues he is highlighting in his campaign. Professor Joan Kosta echoed his sentiments, and discussed a survey by an economic policy group on women's issues that rated both candidates on specific issues of interest to women voters, including pay and employment opportunities, childcare, early education and reproductive rights. Professor Lee focused on the American economy and foreign relations and concluded that Obama would do much to improve the U.S. domestic economy while McCain could better steer U.S. trade with other countries.  

US Fulbright Scholar discusses "Corporate Islam And the Islamic Workplace in Malaysia"

On October 14, the Fulbright Alumni Association Malaysia (FAAM) in collaboration with Open University Malaysia sponsored a lecture entitled "Corporate Islam And the Islamic Workplace in Malaysia" by Dr. Patricia Sloane-White, of the Department of Sociology & Anthropolgy, Kulliyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences, International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM). Dr. Sloane-White is a Senior Fulbright Scholar and Assistant Professor from the University of Delaware who is spending a year at IIUM under the U.S. Fulbright Program.   More

Special Needs Ladies enjoy fellowship with Ambassador and student volunteers

Ambassador and Mrs. James Keith hosted a lunch on Saturday, October 4, 2008 for 22 handicapped ladies and 3 Catholic Sisters from the Asrama Cahaya Home for Handicapped Women in Bukit Nenas, Kuala Lumpur. This was a special occasion for these women, orphaned in World War II and, for the most part, resident at the home ever since. Eighteen volunteer students from the “Kids 4 Kids” Club of the International School of Kuala Lumpur (ISKL) and volunteers from the Embassy community participated in this event. Kenny Rogers Roasters, Xango, Mars, and the Istana Hotel sponsored a delicious lunch, which provided an opportunity for these special needs ladies to enjoy fellowship and community with Embassy and ISKL representatives. The Embassy is especially grateful to Dato’ Rose Majid and Ms. Boni Chuah for their invaluable assistance with this special event, as well as for their personal engagement with the Home.   More

Embassy outreach in Sabah to promote “Study in the USA,” demystify U.S. visa policy, and promote Lincoln Corner

On September 25 and 26, 2008 at seminars hosted by Lincoln Corner Sabah and University Malaysia Sabah, Embassy Outreach Officer Dan Claffey and IRC Librarian Harvinder Kaur explained the U.S. Embassy’s information outreach programs in Malaysia to groups of government librarians, professors and university students. The two seminars focused on educational opportunities in the United States (including the visa procedures involved), as well as the large variety of electronic, print and multimedia resources available through the Lincoln Corners.  More

What it means to be Muslim in the United States: American Imam speaks to audiences across Malaysia

Imam Mohamad Bashar Arafat, President of the Islamic Affairs Council of Maryland and founder and president of Civilizations Exchange and Cooperation Foundation, came to Malaysia in September 2008 to promote better understanding between Muslims and people of other faiths. More

PAO Marrie Schaefer Meets Friends of the Lincoln Resource Center

Counselor for Public Affairs Marrie Schaefer met with 20 senior library and information center directors and coordinators of American Degree Program granting colleges and universities in Kuala Lumpur at a luncheon organized by the Lincoln Resource Center (LRC) September 23rd.   More

The Inside Story: Sharing the meaning of American idioms with students in Terengganu

Public Diplomacy Officer Ms. Cody Taylor visited Sekolah Al Amin in Kemaman, Terengganu on Sept. 23, 2008. During her visit, she delivered a talk to about 80 students entitled "American Idioms." Students in the audience practiced some of the new expressions they learned with Cody during her session, selecting their favorites, such as "all bark and no bite," "spilling the beans" or "play it by ear," to share with the group.

Ambassador hosts Iftar for International Visitor Leadership Program Alumni

On September 2, the Ambassador hosted an Iftar dinner at his residence in honor of alumni of the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP). A total of 45 Malaysian and American guests attended the dinner. Guests included academicians, NGO representatives, artists, religious leaders and political party representatives, all of whom are members of the Malaysian American Friendship Alumni Association (MAFAA). More

English Program at the Malacca Lincoln Corner

The Public Affairs Section organized a one-day English program at the Malacca Lincoln Corner on August 18, 2008. More than 70 students and teachers practiced English by listening, speaking, and reading during interactive sessions on American sports, music, and politics led by American Embassy staff. Students even participated in a team treasure hunt. More

Sultan of Selangor pays a visit to the U.S.S. Ronald Reagan

The Sultan of Selangor paid a visit to the U.S.S. Ronald Reagan on Wednesday, August 20th, accompanied by U.S. Ambassador James R. Keith. The U.S.S. Reagan arrived in Port Klang on a scheduled port call. The ship, named for the 40th U.S. president, is a Nimitz-class nuclear-powered super carrier commissioned in July 2003. With two nuclear reactors, the carrier can operate for 20 years without refueling, and carries more than 5,500 sailors and over 80 aircraft. More

History Comes Alive During DVC August 11 at the K.L. Lincoln Corner

Dr. Anita Hibler and William Strobridge recently published Elephants for Mr. Lincoln: American Civil War-Era Diplomacy in Southeast Asia, a new book available at Kuala Lumpur's Lincoln Corner that chronicles an interesting period in the US relationship with Southeast Asia. The Embassy hosted a digital video conference with Dr. Hibler at the KL Lincoln Center on August 11, during which the author shared her perspectives on the relationship between the U.Sand Southesast Asia during the period leading up to the American Civil War. More

Student Life in Malaysia and the U.S.

One hundred Malaysian undergraduates from Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) and 12 American University students collaborated for a one day seminar to exchange information and views on "Student Life in Malaysia and the United States" in Kuantan, Pahang. More

American Rock 'n' Roll Band Top Cover in Kuala Lumpur

Top Cover, an Air Force rock 'n roll band based in the state of Alaska, played for Malaysian audiences for six days in July. This high-energy seven-member group performed a variety of popular music including classic rock 'n roll and top 40 hits, as well as some Malaysian favorites. More

Malaysian UGRAD exchange students embark on study in U.S.

Seven undergraduate students from various Malaysian universities departed for the United States last month to participate in the "Global UGRAD" undergraduate exchange program. This program offers Malaysian students scholarships for one semester or one year of study in a non-degree program at an American university. More

YES students build bridges between Malaysia and America

The Youth Exchange and Study (YES) program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and is now in its fifth year. YES is geared toward building bridges between Americans and students from abroad. From January to July of this year, 40 Malaysian students had the opportunity to study in an American high school. More

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